Nel

[Blbg3106]

I've just completed chemo and on routine visit of every two months with doctor. How do you get over the fear of it coming back? Scares me so much!

[deb1113]

Quite honestly, you don't. But, I no longer get scans, so at least I don't get scanxiety.

[daf10]

Survivorship can be almost as brutal as the treatment We all suffer from it. i, myself, suffered from it most acutely for six years. Now that I am 15 years out these fears have dwindled The best thing to do is to learn to control these fears or they will take over Exercise helps so does, meditation, deep breathing exercises or yoga. Now might be the time to explore your creative side. It might help to start writing a journal, take an art class, learn photography or get involved with a local theater group. Check to see what your local hospital/treatment center offers. Most places offer survivorship class or support groups.

Best of luck

[stage2 in reply to daf10]

what stage was your cancer and what kind of ovca did you have?..... I hope someday I can talk to other survivors and say exactly what you just said.

[daf10 in reply to daf10]

To be honest I am a stage 2B breast cancer survivor I was unaware that I was posting on the ovarian community side. Having ovarian cancer does make you more susceptible to having a recurrence. But I think the same philosophy applies. There are many women who are volunteers here at SHARE who are long time survivors Give us a call and you can speak to one: 866-537-4273

[stage2]

hi Nel, I don't think we ever will get over the fear, I was 4 months out of chemo and 2 months out of radiation, and I tought I had symptoms, thank God when I phoned the hospital they made an apt for the next day, well when I talked to my oncologist, she said she would be SHOCKED, if had recurred that early. if you were to recur she said it might take about 2 years. of course al depends on the stage what kind of ovarian and how successful was debulking. I was stage 2 high grade epithelial. the most common. how about you?

[Blbg3106 in reply to stage2]

I'm 3c invasive low grade micropapillary serous carcinoma. Debulking was complete. It's a slower growing cancer😃. But dr says it can change its stripes at any time.

[stage2 in reply to Blbg3106]

I know someone in the states, with your cancer and she is 19 years cancer free!

[Cynthia18 in reply to stage2]

That's wonderful to hear

[DSK-C SHARE Volunteer]

Congrats on completing chemo! It is a wonderful feeling and only gets better as your strength returns. It takes time to get over the fear of a reoccurrence. It one sense it is always present but as time passes and your followup appointments are further and further apart you think about it less and less. It is not constantly on your mind as it is initially after chemo. I would concur with the advice below. Live your life to its fullest--exercise, meditate, take time for yourself. Good luck!

[Terrified24-7]

To everyone! You are giving me hope!

[Terrified24-7]

I would also suggest practicing mindfulness, which is basically living in the moment and being grateful for that time. Time is precious and we never know how much we have. Although we have ovarian cancer, we could die in an unrelated accident any time. Try to treasure the present and let the future take care of itself. There's a really good book called Full Catastrophe Living that I have found very helpful.

[mimanda]

Getting over your fear is good for you in every aspect of your life so if you can work on tackling it related to cancer, you'll be way ahead of the game! There are things in life you can control and other things you just can't no matter how much we want to think we can. You can do your very best to live a healthy life and you might still get a recurrence. I sincerely hope you never will! Most of us with ovarian cancer do unfortunately, and frankly I wish I'd been told more about recurrence before it happened to me.

Personally, I'm 37 and living with ovarian cancer for the 4th time in 8 years. I realize that makes you scared of being like me. First, being me is a really great thing and nothing to be scared of! Second, you know you are resilient! You've proven this to yourself and to those around you. Third, so many things are easier after you've been though this stuff once. Lastly, absolutely none of us have control over how we'll die. Living our best lives every day is the goal with cancer or without. Fear won't prevent it, and it could make you miss all the absolutely beautiful things all around you that you were previously too busy to notice. Fear for me was about control. Once I realized that no matter how long I lived or how much I did to prepare I would never really be "done" or "ready" I just had to accept it. I prepared and controlled the things I could and had to just let the rest go. That created a beautiful calm for me. I wish you calm and peace and such good health!

[Blbg3106 in reply to mimanda]

Beautiful, the exact truth of life!